Why does my Strat sound flat on the G & B strings?

T-Rex

T-Rex

Well-Known Member
Country flag
Was playing the Strat today, a 2023 Vintera II, everything on the body is stock, however the neck is swapped out for a Warmoth neck with Ebony fretboard / Stainless frets/ Etimoe shaft. While playing I notice even when tuned and tuning rechecked, the upper strings ring flat. The strings are fairly new, checked the intonation which is spot on. Tried three other guitars through the same amp, my take on a Fender 6G3 Brownface Deluxe, the other guitars sound spot on, same strings, same amount of time on them. Strings are Ernie Balls Super Slinky 9- 42 gauge. Thoughts?
 
Did you spend time stretching the strings and re-tuning? I find it takes a while for the strings to stretch and settle down.
 
Tuners are pretty much spot on so im inclined to think,as i do myself have a heavier touch on some cowboy chords.Mainly G. F . Might make your g and b seem flat. Tune those intonation adjustments by what you hear.
 
Don O said:
Did you spend time stretching the strings and re-tuning? I find it takes a while for the strings to stretch and settle down.
Click to expand...
Yes. And the strings stay in tune. I've rechecked the pitch several times
 
The nut was cut at Warmoth, haven't touched it. And the tremolo is decked. I have had the neck on two other Strat bodies and haven't noticed the same symptoms on those.
 
Odd. When you say rings flat.... do you mean as in..... Flat - Neutral - Sharp? Or they're in tune, but just not ringing out with that crisp new string tone? Like my string get when I haven't changed them in a year.
 
T-Rex said:
The nut was cut at Warmoth, haven't touched it. And the tremolo is decked. I have had the neck on two other Strat bodies and haven't noticed the same symptoms on those.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure what sizes Warmoth cuts them to. I’ve always filed my Warmoth nuts to a few thousandths over the string size I’m going to use. I always remove some material doing this.
 
Last edited:
iblive said:
Odd. When you say rings flat.... do you mean as in..... Flat - Neutral - Sharp? Or they're in tune, but just not ringing out with that crisp new string tone? Like my string get when I haven't changed them in a year.
Click to expand...
The tuner says tuned to proper pitch, but when the string is picked, it sounds flat, not sharp to the ear. Almost a half step down
 
T-Rex said:
Was playing the Strat today, a 2023 Vintera II, everything on the body is stock, however the neck is swapped out for a Warmoth neck with Ebony fretboard / Stainless frets/ Etimoe shaft. While playing I notice even when tuned and tuning rechecked, the upper strings ring flat. The strings are fairly new, checked the intonation which is spot on. Tried three other guitars through the same amp, my take on a Fender 6G3 Brownface Deluxe, the other guitars sound spot on, same strings, same amount of time on them. Strings are Ernie Balls Super Slinky 9- 42 gauge. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Action height?
 
How's the tuning if you throw a capo at the 1st or 2nd fret, then set the intonation. Maybe a bad nut slot or nut?
 
So I think that I have it figured out. My neck from Warmoth is a compound that starts at @ a 10" radius and quickly turns into a 12" radius. The Vintera II body came with vintage staggered pole pieces for a 7.25" radius neck. Checking the staggered pole pieces with a 12" radius gauge showed how badly they are off. I worked with the guitar today, reset all pole pieces in the pickups to match the 12" radius gauge. Ran out of time to restring and adjust pickup height which is on tomorrows list.
 
T-Rex said:
So I think that I have it figured out. My neck from Warmoth is a compound that starts at @ a 10" radius and quickly turns into a 12" radius. The Vintera II body came with vintage staggered pole pieces for a 7.25" radius neck. Checking the staggered pole pieces with a 12" radius gauge showed how badly they are off. I worked with the guitar today, reset all pole pieces in the pickups to match the 12" radius gauge. Ran out of time to restring and adjust pickup height which is on tomorrows list.
Click to expand...
The thing about a compound radius fret board that a lot of people don't seem to realize is that the radius continues to flatten between the end of the fretboard and the bridge. For example, a fb with a compound radius from 10 to 16 (most common Warmoth radius) continues to flatten to a little over 18" radius at the bridge. It's 18.45" if I remember correctly, it's been a while since I had to deal with that. It didn't take me long to figure out that I don't like compound radius fret boards and that's part of the reason.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top